Sketch for ‘The Last of the Buffalo’ c. 1888

Albert Bierstadt’s "Sketch for ‘The Last of the Buffalo’" (c. 1888) is a preparatory study for his large-scale painting of the same name. The sketch depicts a Native American on horseback, spear raised in a gesture of victory over a wounded buffalo, while a second buffalo is seen retreating in the distance. The painting is a testament to Bierstadt's fascination with the American West, and the diminishing population of buffalo that was a sign of westward expansion and the decline of Native American culture. This sketch is a powerful and evocative image that captures the drama and tragedy of the time.